Gardening events February 20 – 24, 2008

Andrea Bellamy |

Update February 20. I’ve just found out that I’m not going to be able to make it to the Northwest Flower and Garden Show because I’m 32 weeks pregnant and can’t get insurance coverage. (I can’t risk going to the States without it, especially in my “condition.”) Thankfully, Caitlin and Owen of Vancouver-based garden design team Aloe Designs are going to cover the event for Heavy Petal. Thanks guys! I’ve also added another event closer to home – the BC Home and Garden Show (thanks for the reminder, Ren!)

Who knew late February was such a peak time for gardening events? If you live in the Vancouver area, there are three four worth checking out this week, from a big-ticket show to a small-but-enthusiastic celebration.

Northwest Flower and Garden Show 2008

The 20th annual Northwest Flower & Garden Show starts this coming Wednesday, and will take place February 20 – 24, 2008 at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. The highlight of the show is always the gardens, which, come February, are a welcome – if artificial – taste of the season to come.

The cost of admission, which includes entrance to gardening seminars, is $19 for adults, $8 for students 25 and under with valid student I.D., $3 for ages 6 – 17 and free for children under 5. Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

BC Home and Garden Show

This show focuses a little bit too much on the magic mop crowd for my taste, but since I can’t make it to Seattle, I’ll likely poke around the BC Home and Garden Show for an afternoon. There is a good list of speakers, and the display gardens look promising.

Wednesday, February 20 through Sunday, February 24 at BC Place Stadium, 777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, BC.

Seedy Saturday

Seedy Saturdays are taking place all across BC this month. In Vancouver, visit Van Dusen Gardens‘ Floral Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 23 for a celebration of heritage
varieties and organic gardening featuring more than 30 growers, seed
companies and exhibitors, plus a heritage seed swap.
Admission is by donation.

Local nursery Phoenix Perennials holds its annual Hellebore Hurrah (“celebrating early spring and all things hellebore”) on February 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2008 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. They’re carrying Heronswood Hellebores for one more year – better not miss out!

That sucks you aren’t allowed down south, under insurance. Don’t they know pregnant gardeners need to get to the show too!

I will for sure get you the goods, flashes and nerdy notebooks and all. Would love to guest blog for you, although may have to get O to help. I have realized he has a nack for writing. Check out his latest comment to my recent blog post on nesting. His alias is world reclaimed- super funny.